Inn Too Deep - Chapter 3 - The Immortal Hearts - Final (Patreon)

“Order up for bar three!” Alexi shouted.

Frederick finished drying a mug before turning to the kitchen counter behind the bar. He grabbed the plate and set it in front of their honored guest. After leaning around the corner and grabbing some utensils, Frederick handed them to the mayor, who was staring wide-eyed with anticipation at the sizzling steak. The mayor wasted no time slicing through a juicy morsel and plopping it into his mouth.

“Mmm, mmm . . . Alexi, I think you’ve outdone yourself, my boy,” he said.

“You honor me with the kind words, Mayor,” Alexi said, smiling.

“My word, it gets even better the more you eat it! I mean you could cut this with a dull knife . . . and the juiciness of the marinade. You must tell me your recipe.”

“Sorry, Mayor,” Frederick interjected. “That’s a house secret. You’ll just have to keep visiting us.”

The mayor wrinkled his nose. “While I am disappointed, I respect your decision. I’ve been coming here every day for a week. I would like to think that shows my commitment.”

“You’re definitely one of our regulars, and we greatly appreciate your business, Mayor.”

“It’s doing wonders for me as well. I get a bit of exercise walking across the town, get to interact with our townsfolk, and end my day with a mighty fine meal.”

“We’re glad we can be of service.”

While the mayor resumed eating his steak, Frederick attended to the other customers at the bar. A week after their grand opening, The Crossroads Tavern was still experiencing an influx of new customers. Even on a rainy night like tonight, the dining room was full of patrons waiting for an open table. Frederick and his companions had to rearrange some of the tables to maximize the seating area. If things continued the way they were, the tavern owner was certain they would need to expand further.

With his immediate customers taken care of, Frederick looked across the room at his companions. Metzi and Valencia were turning tables as quickly as they could, keeping everyone’s spirit up with fresh mugs of beer and quick-witted remarks that fed the laughter throughout the room. Iraina was handing out dry towels to those coming in from the rain. Her calm and collected demeanor made it difficult for anyone to complain about the wait.

Frederick couldn’t help but smile at their own accomplishments. Even with everything they had been through, they created a new life in Hallow’s Creek. It differed from the adventures of the past, but there was something just as gratifying, creating a business of their own. And while his companions were still getting used to their new lives, the subtle changes in their attitudes and behaviors gave him the impression that they were starting to enjoy it.

While Frederick poured another mug of beer, a growing murmur pulled his attention to the dining area. A huddled crowd stood around the front window, a glowing, orange light peeking its way through the dark, rainy night. After setting the mug in front of a customer, Frederick wiped his hands on his apron and made his way across the room.

“It’s the Swamp Ravens!” one of the townsfolk cried. The man's words sent the inside of the tavern into a frantic panic. The customers’ knee-jerk reactions toppled tables and chairs as they pushed their way to the front window, creating an immediate barrier between him and the window. Sounds of hammered banging echoed on every side of the building, causing Frederick to freeze.

“They’re barricading us in!” a woman shouted. The sounds of shattered glass and whistling arrows followed the woman’s shriek. Like mice to a flame, the customers gathered around the window scattered away when volleys of arrows rang through the opening.

“Get down!” Frederick shouted, tackling a woman and child. He waited until the snapping sounds of peppered wood stopped as the archers prepared another salvo. The smell of smoke filled the room before he felt the heat coming from above. He shot his head up over the crying wounded to get an idea of what they were dealing with.

Dozens of Swamp Ravens lined up in front of their home. They split up into three groups: one group of archers, one group of swordsmen, and one man mounted on a horse. The horseman barked orders at his archers to light their arrows before preparing a follow up barrage.

Frederick gritted his teeth as his rage built. He could feel himself giving in to the passenger within that he had suppressed for so long; the piece of the world eater that scratched at the back of his mind, waiting for its opportunity to seep through the cracks in his will. His nails grew into keen points, and he felt his teeth sharpen like dozens of little blades. But it wasn’t until he heard the cry from the child he hovered over that he could center himself.

When she stared into his eyes, all he could see was his reflection. There was no illusion, and what was staring down at them was a hulking, transformed beast. It was enough for Frederick to regain control of the sanity he lost moments ago, pushing the terror in his soul back into the abyss deep inside of him. The transformation subsided, and he slowly saw the changes revert, leaving him with only the solid-black eyes he had become accustomed to.

“It’s okay,” Frederick said, trying to calm the girl down. “We’re the good guys.” The child slowly nodded as he stood to turn and call out orders. “Hearts! Forget about the illusions. Priority one is to protect the people. Iraina, provide us a shield on the window, we need to stop more fire arrows from entering the room. Once that’s done, I want you focused on healing the wounded.”

“Yes, sir!” she shouted, raising the barrier with a flick of her hands.

“Alexi, go grab your shield and hammer. Once Iraina is finished, you’ll need to create an exit out the western wall. I want you to guarantee our customers’ safety. With any luck, there won’t be any combatants stationed there since there are no doors or windows.”

“You got it, Chief,” Alexi said, sprinting up the stairs.

“Valencia, focus on the fire, dispel any you can sense.”

“Way ahead of you, Papi,” Valencia said, concentrating on the flames that were climbing up on the sides of the walls.

“Once you’re done, I want you to join Alexi and Iraina to help get these people out of here. They are our priority.”

“What about you?”

A nefarious smile crept along Frederick’s face. “Metzi and I will be the distractions. It should buy you time to get everyone safe and sound.”

“That’s not fair! I want to be the distraction!”

“Now’s not the time to argue. I need you to help suppress these flames. Otherwise, the entire building is going to collapse.”

Valencia let out a huff as she continued on her task. Frederick coughed into his fist when the smoke itched at his throat. He felt someone tug at his arm and turned to see Iraina standing next to him. Her antenna drooped low as she pointed out to the corner of the room.

“T-they won’t let me near them,” she stammered. “Even the ones with arrows in their chests are crawling and kicking away from me.”

Frederick turned to see the dozens of customers in the room scattered at the farthest points away from him and his companions. Even those bloodied with puncture wounds left blood trails along the floor as they attempted to claw away. The smoke had masked the smell that Frederick had come to know all too well. After his assimilation with the world eater, his heightened senses had manifested themselves in varying ways. But the smell of fear had always had a sickening, poignant stench that he hated.

Frederick scanned the room, looking for the small, portly man he had grown fond of. When he locked eyes with the mayor, Frederick rounded the bar and kneeled down. The man’s eyes darted back and forth, his breathing erratic.

“Mayor, it’s me, it’s Francis.”

“Francis?” the mayor asked, sitting up to his butt. “My boy, what’s happened to your eyes? And the girls, they turned into these hideous creatures.”

Frederick let out a sigh. “Mayor, they are not creatures, they are just people trying to live a normal life. The monsters are the men raining lit arrows on my bar and trying to kill everyone in this tavern. Now, we can certainly help get you and your people out of here, but we need your help.”

The mayor hesitated as he looked up at Frederick, but slowly shifted to kneel on his knee. “What do you need me to do?”

Frederick gave a warm smile as he leaned up over the bar counter. “We need you to get your people to allow us to help them. Alexi, Iraina, and Valencia will ensure you and your people get to safety while Metzi and I deal with the Swamp Ravens.”

“Deal with the Swamp Ravens?” the mayor asked, letting out a laugh that morphed into a coughing fit. “My boy, the Swamp Ravens are merciless. They’ve been squeezing our town for years. They own Hallow’s Creek, and as ashamed as I am to say it, I am but a figurehead.”

Frederick grabbed Mayor Carlisle by the collar and pulled him up to his feet. “Then now’s the time to do something about it, Mayor. Look out at those women and children crying. You’re telling me you’re going to leave them to die here when you could have done something to save them?!”

The mayor turned his head out to the crowd of people huddled in the corner of the room. He gazed there for a few moments before turning and looking up at Frederick with determination in his eyes. “Y-you’re right. I can’t live this way any longer. For too long I’ve turned a blind eye to their dealings, no matter how much pain it brought our people. They have gone too far this time.”

“I knew you had it in you,” Frederick said, letting go of the mayor’s suit jacket and brushing him off. “Now, let’s get your people to safety.”

Frederick followed the mayor close behind as the two left the bar. Valencia’s work was almost complete. With the fire suppressed, she began cleaning the smoke from the air. Frederick waved at Iraina to him as they approached the huddled townsfolk.

“Everyone, please listen,” the mayor shouted. “These . . . people are here to help. They are able to heal our wounds and have promised to get us to safety.”

“Are you crazy?” one customer shouted. “They’re monsters. They are not to be trusted.”

“Yeah, my sister's cousin Felicia got seduced by one of dem dragon men,” a grizzled elder said. “He took her away from her family and was never seen again.”

“That’s right, they take our jobs, our women, and will eat our children too!”

Frederick hung his head in his palm, shaking it side-to-side, before a thunderous roar of metal echoed from the stairwell as Alexi returned, wielding his armor, shield, and hammer. There was no hiding the dragon shape of Alexi’s helm, which inspired further cries from the townsfolk.

“Will you all shut up!” Valencia shouted, silencing everyone in the room. “You’re so blinded by your own ignorance, you can’t see we’re trying to help you. If you all want to stand here and die, then be my guest. It saves me the trouble. I’m only doing this because HE asked me to. I’d much rather be outside killing those assholes that shot up our home!”

“Wait . . . you’ll get rid of the Swamp Ravens?” a bald man asked.

“No, you idiot we’re just going to let them destroy our home and get away with it . . . Of fucking course we’re going to make them pay. But before we can do anything, we have to get you all to safety.” A soft murmur fell across the townsfolk as they realized the situation they were in.

Frederick looked over at the mayor, who was holding up a shaking finger. His lips trembled as he spoke. “W-wait a minute, it can’t be.” It was at that moment that Frederick realized their true identities were known. “A shoggoth, hellhound, dragonkin, mothkin, and their commander. You’re the Immortal Hearts.” Silence befell everyone in the room. Only creaking sounds of stressed wood lingered.

The mayor walked down the line, pointing at Frederick and his companions. “Frederick Blackhardt, the Immortal. Valencia Redhardt, the Flame. Metzi Violethardt, the Abyss. Iraina Whitehardt, the Light. And you, my towering friend, are Alexi Bluehardt, the Wall.”

Frederick and his companions glanced at each other before slowly nodding. The townsfolk stood from the corner, recognizing the names of the heroes of their world. The Immortal Hearts, Slayers of the World Eater, and the most famous adventurers of the Veracian Empire. Banished by the empire, they were household names and loved by the people.

The townsfolk jumped under the protection of Alexi as the dragonkin raised his shield, protecting them from the collapsing roof above. Frederick ushered the uninjured into a line while Iraina healed them with a wide burst of healing magic, removing all ailments that affected the townsfolk. However, several bodies lay motionless on the ground. Frederick cursed under his breath, but quickly focused on their current needs.

“Wait for us to get their attention, then lead everyone out into the nearby hills,” Frederick instructed his team. After his team acknowledged the order, Frederick and Metzi walked to the front door. He opened it, and with one quick swipe of his hand, shattered the boards that had been hastily nailed into the front of his tavern. Before they exited, Frederick grabbed two cloaks that hung on nearby hooks and handed one to Metzi. “Put this on, it may buy us some time.”

“What’s the plan?”

“I’ll try and speak with them, and keep their attention focused on me. If things go sour, don’t hold back.”

Metzi nodded, and the two exited the front door. The rain was heavy, casting a white silhouette against the dozens of torches held by the Swamp Ravens. At the sound of shattering wood, all eyes focused on Frederick. It wasn’t until Metzi rounded behind him that the unease of their foes was noticeable, with many of the men drawing their swords and raising their bows.

Frederick, in an effort to keep their focus on him, raised his hands. “I’m unarmed,” he shouted. “My name is Francis Beesly. I am the owner of The Crossroads Tavern. I do not understand the reason for this unrelenting assault on my home. I think there is a grave misunderstanding here.”

“Don’t listen to him,” a familiar voice called out. A bald man with a tied-up arm pushed his way through the other soldiers. “He’s just like the rest of them. All of you shoot, shoot them now!”

“Curb that order!” a shout came from behind. The slapping sound of hooves in mud preceded the commander's arrival. The man that unmounted the beast had arms and legs the size of tree trunks. He had short, peppered-gray hair and scar marks down his left face that drew attention toward his gray eye. Around his waist sat a large kidney belt with twin short swords hanging from both sides.

“Lieutenant Pearce, return to your post.”

“But, Captain Atlas, I—”

All it took was the captain’s glare for Lieutenant Pearce to turn tail and press his way between the rest of the soldiers. After spraying snot on the ground, the man stood up straight and lit a cigar before taking a deep breath.

“Do you know who I am?” the man asked rhetorically.

“I do now,” Frederick said with a smile. “Captain Atlas of the Swamp Ravens.”

“You’re godsdamn right, and I’m pretty sure you know why my men and I are here.”

“I’m guessing your Lieutenant told you my tavern is full of monsters?”

“Partly,” Captain Atlas said before taking a large puff on his cigar and pacing back and forth. “Every few years we get someone new coming into town, thinking they don’t have to abide by the rules and system I have in place here. Now, I’m not unreasonable to think that it must be strange for a newcomer to expect to pay to stay here in our little town. Or that they are interested in dealing elicit goods.”

Captain Atlas flicked his cigar while turning to face Frederick. “If it would have ended there, I would have given you the choice to pack your things up and leave. However, rather than just simply telling them no, you broke my second-in-command’s arm and killed the rest.”

“I didn’t break his arm, that was one of my companions. It was a well-taught lesson that you don’t touch others who don’t wish to be touched.”

Captain Atlas paused and turned to face Frederick. His bellowed laughter spread through the crowd of his men before he threw his cigar to the ground and smothered it in mud with his boot.

“You’ve got a smart mouth on you.”

“I’m the furthest thing from smart, I just know when to pick my battles.”

Captain Atlas pulled his hood back and stepped into Frederick’s personal space. “Do you see this scar along my face? This is from the second crusades. I got this at the Battle of Eurodina, when we pushed the last of the inferior races out of the Empire's borders.”

“The crusades were a mistake. Humans are no better than any of the others.”

“I ought to slit your throat going against the emperor's word like that.”

Frederick turned and nodded to Metzi before looking up at Captain Atlas. “Go right ahead.”

Frederick didn’t see or feel the blow when it happened. The realization didn’t come until Captain Atlas was wiping the blood off of his blade. Frederick felt like he couldn’t breathe. He looked down to see blood pouring from his neck. It was at that moment when the stinging pain set in.

But as quickly as it came, it receded. Frederick watched each pulse of blood slow to a trickle until the bleeding stopped. Captain Atlas shifted in place once he realized that Frederick was still standing. The speed at which Captain Atlas moved was unlike anything Frederick had seen before. The blade was in his gut before he could dodge.

“Die, you freak!”

Before Captain Atlas could move again, Frederick grabbed on to his wrist, shoving the blade farther into his stomach. He coughed up blood onto the bandit leader’s coat before giving him a bloodied smile.

“That’s the problem, Atlas, I can’t die.”

An explosion of wooden shrapnel echoed from behind, pulling the Swamp Ravens’ attentions, including Captain Atlas. Frederick seized the opportunity by using his superior strength to snap Atlas’s arm and rotate around him, securing him in a choke hold.

“Metzi, now!” Frederick shouted.

At her commander’s signal, Metzi unleashed herself upon the Swamp Ravens. Long slits opened along her viscous body, letting out a horrifying shriek. The heads of the enemies closest to the shoggoth popped like pockets of trapped air, sending chunks of brain matter into their nearby companions. However, the remaining members of the Swamp Ravens had no opportunity of reprieve as the sonic attack left the rest with bleeding ears.

Without waiting for the effect to wear off, Metzi followed up on her first attack by conjuring a spell of darkness underneath the left flank. The soldiers slowly sank, as if being pulled in by the invisible hands of the void. They didn’t stop screaming until their heads were completely submerged.

Metzi’s true form of an eldritch beast didn’t present itself until she was present with the last group. She yanked the handful of men who remained into her form, gobbling them up like a late-night snack. At the end of it all, only one more remained. She took her time with Lieutenant Pearce, who she chewed through piece-by-piece, painting the muddied ground red with his entrails. An uncharacteristically enormous belch echoed her satisfaction, to which she turned to Frederick and immediately apologized for. In less than fifteen seconds, over twenty soldiers were nothing more than forgotten memories lost to the rain.

Frederick waited until she finished before leaning in to whisper in Captain Atlas’s ear while he tightened his arm around his neck. “This will be your last memory, Captain Atlas. A memory of us purging your ignorance from this world. In the end, all the time you spent fighting was for nothing. You are nothing, and in time you will be forgotten.”

The man attempted to pull his second blade, only to have himself pinned by Metzi’s tentacles. Frederick elongated the struggle. He wanted the man to suffer for what he had done to the people of Hallow’s Creek. He could think of worse punishments, but for now, this was enough. When the bandit leader stopped moving, Frederick twisted his head off like he was opening a jar lid. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

With a purple tentacle stretched before him, Frederick clasped his lover’s hand, allowing her to use her strength to pull him up to his feet. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and leaned his head down on her head as they both dragged their feet to the tavern. They stood in the rain looking up at their broken, burned, and crumbling home. A rustling in the brush pulled their attention to see Alexi, Valencia, and Iraina approaching from the nearby wilderness.

“How did it go?” Frederick asked.

“Everyone is safe and sound,” Alexi said. “There were a couple of stragglers stationed at the back entrance who looped around the side when we made our exit, but Valencia’s fireball took care of that.”

“You should have heard them scream,” Valencia said, chuckling before mimicking their deaths. “‘Ah, it burns!’ . . . It was hilarious.”

“Metzi cleaned up the rest. They didn’t last long, maybe fifteen to twenty seconds or so.”

“Twenty seconds?” Valencia scoffed. “Metzi, you’re getting slow.”

“Still better than you can do,” Metzi jabbed with a smirk.

“Is that a challenge?”

“Let’s not fight,” Iraina said, letting out a yawn. “It’s been a long day, let’s get some rest.”

“I agree,” Frederick said, rolling his shoulders. “I wouldn’t mind getting a few hours of sleep.” As the group took steps toward their home, a rumbling shake was followed by the front of their tavern collapsing, sending shards of glass and broken wood into the muddy earth.

“Well, what are we going to do about that?” Valencia asked.

“We’re already exposed,” Frederick said, letting out an enormous sigh. “There’s no point holding back our power now.”

“Should Iraina and I expand the dining room like we wanted?”

“Ooo and add room for another oven,” Alexi added. “That way I can bake two different things at once.”

Frederick nodded, and Valencia and Iraina raised their hands in unison, speaking incantations. Over the next minute, the frame of the house settled back in place with planks of wood and fresh panes of glass conjuring out of thin air. The burned roof was revitalized, as if brand new. An addition to the kitchen and dining rooms expanded the building's footprint as the cleric and sorceress stretched it like a piece of taffy. I wonder if we’ll actually need it, though, Frederick wondered.

With their residence rebuilt with all new furnishings, everyone sprinted to the front door, eager to get dry from the night’s rain.

***

Frederick let out a soft moan as he felt warmth envelop his groin. He slowly opened his eyes to see the white poof of fur from Iraina’s head bobbing up and down. When he attempted to pull his arm down, he realized he couldn’t move. He looked up at the headboard and noticed Metzi had tied him to the corners of the headrest using her tentacles.

“Good morning, Master,” Metzi said, sliding down to the side of his body.

“What’s going on here?” Frederick asked with a smirk.

“We just thought we would show our appreciation to you after last night. We know you’ve been working so hard to keep us safe and out of the public eye, but just when the people needed you, you didn’t hesitate to allow us to do our jobs. And because of that, you saved countless lives.”

“And as much as I don’t show it, you’ve always made the right call when it comes down to it,” Valencia said, snuggling her head into his neck. “Even though humans aren’t my favorite, you most certainly are.”

“I don’t know if I should take that as a compliment or not,” Frederick chuckled.

“Stop talking,” Valencia whispered before suckling on his ear, sending goosebumps all over his body.

The sensation of all three women sucking and kissing on his body put Frederick in a stupor. His body teetered on the edge of complete relaxation and utter anxiousness. Their lips and tongues caused his toes to curl as his pleasure built. He was completely restrained, thanks to Metzi’s tentacles, but that just heightened his pleasure. As much as he wanted to jerk and move, he couldn’t. The simple fact was that these women were going to have their way with him, and he was looking forward to it.

“Ow,” Frederick said, laughing after Valencia bit his earlobe.

“I’m sorry, Papi, you know how I like to tease.”

“Less teasing and more kissing would be nice.”

“Only because you asked nicely.”

Valencia joined Metzi, applying soft kisses across his chest and abdomen. The way they each felt was unique to their personalities. Metzi’s kisses were gushing with wetness, leaving a trail everywhere her lips touched. Valencia’s kisses were warmer, causing a unique cozy sensation followed by a cooling from the air in the room. It made him want to be covered in her warmth.

An unexpected rumble coming from Frederick’s cock caused everyone to stop what they were doing and look at the end of the bed. Iraina was lying with her head on Frederick’s thigh, snoring with his cock pressing against the inside of her cheek.

“Oh my gods, she didn’t,” Valencia asked, covering her hand over her mouth, trying to suppress her laughter.

“Yes . . . it looks like she did,” Metzi replied.

“I knew something like this would happen, but I never thought THIS would happen.”

“I know, but you know how upset she would be if we didn’t include her. She does look cute though.”

“We should probably . . .”

“Yeah . . .”

Valencia drifted Iraina’s head to the side before Metzi picked her up. She moved her to a free spot on the side of the bed. They both tucked the tired mothkin under the covers before turning their gaze back to Frederick. The way their eyes glowed, paired with their elongated grins, sent a shiver down Frederick’s spine. It was like prey looking into the eyes of a predator, coming to terms that this would be his last moments.

“I’ll have to thank Iraina later for getting you ready,” the hellhound said, straddling Frederick. She leaned up, sliding the tip between her lips before slowly pressing down. She let out a gasp as she lowered herself. “Oh gods, it’s been way too long.” The warmth of her body radiated across Frederick’s groin like a steaming, wet towel. However, unlike Metzi, whose focus was on Frederick’s pleasure, Valencia used him the way that she wanted.

There was no subtle build up. Valencia folded her feet under Frederick’s thighs and bounced on top of his hard shaft. She rubbed her enormous paws across her charcoal-like body as she panted with each thrust. The flames along the sides of her eyes lit up the entirety of their bedroom.

“Papi, you feel so good,” she moaned. “I love the way you fill me.”

As her panting became more frequent, Frederick shifted his hips and dug his heels into the bed. He thrust his hips as she moved down, intensifying the speed and frequency of their movement. Valencia’s satisfactory yelp put a smile on Frederick’s face.

“Yes, just like that,” she said. “Fuck me harder.”

Frederick did as she commanded, building up a sweat as he pumped her as fast as he could. He could tell she was getting close by the frequency of her breath, building up to where she couldn’t breathe. Her wail accompanied a release of warm fluid that covered Frederick’s rod. Metzi was quick to swoop in, sucking and licking up Valencia’s excess lust, which only seemed to increase the intensity of the hellhound’s shaking legs.

“Ffffuck, Metzi, I’m still sensitive,” Valencia said, her tone uncharacteristically soft.

“Ohhh,” Metzi said with a devilish smile. The shoggoth swirled around the backside of Valencia’s still-twitching body, grabbing her breasts with both hands. She released Frederick’s hands and moved them to Valencia to tie her hands above.

“W-what are you doing?”

“Well, I’m not going to let you two have all the fun. Your taste is sweet, but the combination of you two will be even sweeter.”

Metzi pulled Valencia off of Frederick and shifted her form so they were both lying back on the bed. Frederick caught his purple lover’s subtle nod and shifted up to his knees. He grabbed onto Valencia’s hips and positioned himself above her. A mouth formed from Metzi’s body, sucking all of Valencia’s fluid from his still hard shaft, but leaving behind a thin layer of her own lubrication. Frederick slid his tip along Valencia’s button, teasing her just for a moment before sliding himself back in.

Valencia cursed in her hellish tongue as Frederick pressed himself into her. He started slowly, gliding his thumb across the top of her peach, taking his time to mirror Metzi’s hands, which swayed across Valencia’s breasts. The two lovers' eyes locked, and they smiled while their target moaned and whimpered in their own delight.

“Papi, this isn’t fair,” Valencia whimpered. “You can’t tease me like this. Please, give me what I want. I’ll do anything.”

“Anything?” Frederick asked.

“Anything!”

“What do you think, Metzi? Should we give her what she wants?”

“She’s been an awfully bad girl, Master. She mounted you without hesitation and took her pleasure first. I don’t think she deserves it.”

“I promise to be a good girl, I swear!”

“I don’t know, my love,” Frederick said, still slowly rocking his hips. “Metzi made some good points.”

“Metzi, please,” Valencia cried. “I promise I’ll be good!”

“Well . . . I guess we can forgive her just this once, and I am dying to taste you again.”

The two shared a laugh as Frederick picked up the pace. He shifted onto one knee, pulling Valencia’s leg up to his chest, and thrust hard. The room’s air became thick and heavy as the three lovers’ sweat, lust, and breath intertwined. Valencia’s cries echoed into the room as her body shook with each passionate release, which only incentivized Frederick to keep going.

He closed his eyes, concentrating on the grip of his lover’s body gliding and squeezing around his shaft with each orgasm that came. He felt himself getting close, letting his own mouth drop open while he ravaged the dark-furred beauty.

He felt Metzi’s form shift around him before tasting the sweet nectar of her tongue. He bit on her lower lip, holding on with erratic breaths as he approached his climax. With a final pulsating thrust, Frederick filled Valencia’s womb, spilling his gift all over their bedding. He gasped for air as he pulled away from Metzi’s lips, eliciting a laugh of happiness.

With a heavy thud, Frederick fell back onto the pillows of the bed. He and Valencia giggled with aftershocks while Metzi cleaned up their mess, taking special care not to leave any of the morning’s treats behind. Frederick looked across the bed at the soft-golden and fire-red eyes looking back at him. A snort from his asleep lover next to him set the three into a laughing fit.

When they were able to get control of themselves, Metzi slithered in between Iraina’s arms with Valencia assuming the big spoon position behind the mothkin. Frederick wrapped his arm around his girls as far as he could, attempting to pull them all close to him.

“I want you all to know that I love you all very much. You three make me the happiest man alive, and I cherish every moment together.”

“We know,” Valencia said, scooting her tail in between Frederick’s legs.

“I think what she meant to say was that we love you too,” Metzi added.

“That too.”

The three lay in bed and relaxed into each other with no concerns of anything else. All they had was each other, and that was enough. It wasn’t until a knocking came down at the front door that caused Frederick to rise.

“Did you three hear that?” Frederick asked.

“Don’t worry about it,” Valencia said. “They’ll go away eventually.”

Frederick scooted off the bed, grabbed his trousers and shirt, and pulled the handle of their already-opened door. Metzi and Valencia’s shouts to come back to bed went ignored while he walked down their second-floor hallway. Another set of knocks on the door echoed throughout the empty building as Frederick reached the bottom of the stairs. He smiled when he saw the white mustache of the mayor leaning against the window.

When he opened the door, his jaw dropped at the sight of the number of people standing on their lawn. Dozens of former customers were holding paint buckets, ladders, wood, and spare parts. Several set various tables and chairs on their front yard, making temporary outdoor seating for all who had come.

“Mayor Carlisle, what are you doing here?” Frederick asked.

“What does it look like, my boy? We’ve come to help,” the mayor said, turning and extending his hand to the crowd.

“I don’t understand?”

“You and your companions have done the city a great service yesterday. Not only did you save members of our town, but you saved me. The least that we could do is help you rebuild. Although,” he said, looking up and scratching the top of his head, “it looks to me like you’ve already finished fixing everything.”

“Yeah, magic makes things a lot easier,” Frederick said, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Quite right, quite right. Then I guess I’ll let everyone know, and we’ll take everything back.”

“Well, don’t go. You all came all this way. We’ll get the kitchen prepped, the mugs filled, and food on the table.”

“So, I take it The Crossroads Tavern is still open for business?”

“Yeah . . . I suppose it is.”